The danger is that U.S. perceptions of European tightfistedness plus European concern the U.S. hasn't done enough yet to repair its banking system may lead to deadlock on issues Europe believes are of equal importance to pump-priming the global economy.

Attendance had never been spectacular in Washington — Griffith says the club drew a million only once in the family's fifty years there — and the Old Fox was developing a reputation for tightfistedness.